David Rohn exhibits artwork at Oxbow Gallery in Northampton

David Rohn's work may be seen at Oxbow Gallery in Northampton.David Rohn

Due to a childhood accident, artist David Rohn has only had sight in one eye.

But that disability clearly hasn't stopped him–and may have aided his art by giving him a different perspective than other artists.

"I have been monocular since age 7, which may have something to do with my interest in ambiguous space," he said.

Rohn, who works in oils and water colors, currently has an exhibit at Northampton's Oxbow Gallery. His work uses reflected light and he plays with space and dimensions in many works.

Rohan's interest in art began at an early age with basic drawing. In high school hebecame the cartoonist for the school newspaper, a job he also did during as a college freshman.

But it wasn't until the following year that a light went on, both in his brain and on his canvases.

"The next summer I took courses at the Chicago Art Institute: it was then and there that I became aware that one could be an artist, and that there were young people who aimed their lives in that direction," he said. "I come from a small town on Lake Michigan, had never met an artist."

He later received his bachelors and master's degrees from the University of Michigan.

Rohn's influences include masters such Cézanne and Matisse.

"The former because of pure, intense observation and the frank recognition that he is making marks on a flat surface; the latter because he plays with the dialogue between colored shapes."

Rohn started in oils but burned out using them.

"By 1973 I evolved into being an abstract oil painter who tried to make stylistically, intellectually challenging work, until I just couldn't do it anymore," he said. "However, ever since I was a teenager, I had made small informal landscape watercolors for relaxation, by then a way to get out of the studio and into the fresh air. I reverted to this, dropped oil painting altogether."

He then started teaching at Windham College, Putney, Ver. and carved out a career as an award-winning watercolor still life painter. He later returned to oils.

Rohn said he gets his inspiration "from looking at stuff, mostly.

"Also from the scraps and bits of discarded work lying about in the studio," he said.

Rohn's exhibit, which includes still lifes, figure paintings, and landscapes, will run through Feb. 2. The Oxbow Gallery is at 275 Pleasant St. and is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.